|
|
|
The Descartes Systems Group Inc. (DSGX: Nasdaq; DSG: TSX) is a leading provider of Resources in Motion Management Systems – comprised of Global Trade Compliance, Supply Chain Execution and Mobile Resource Management services. Descartes’ Global Logistics Network (GLN) unites global businesses and trading partners as One Learning Team, allowing them to collaborate in a cost effective way and maximize productivity and efficiency. Trading partners that connect to the GLN join Descartes’ Federated Network, the world’s most extensive multi-modal business network with over 35,000 trading partners connected. Founded in 1981, the company is based in Waterloo, Ontario and has over 600 employees in 26 offices in North America, Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Descartes’ products target distribution-sensitive companies. These are companies where their ability to deliver goods is either a key or a distinguishing part of their own product/service offering. Descartes’ on-demand, software-as-a-service (SaaS) logistics technology solutions streamline the entire order-to-delivery process and enable customers across industries and transportation modes to manage the movement of goods and related information.
Descartes’ solutions and services help customers reduce administrative costs, billing cycles, fleet size, contract carrier costs, and mileage driven; improve pick-up and delivery reliability; and optimize working capital through fleet visibility. Descartes’ hosted, transactional and packaged Resources in Motion Management Solutions focus on three core areas; Global Trade Compliance, Supply Chain Execution and Mobile Resource Management.
Descartes’ Global Trade Compliance solutions leverage global expertise to help customers make regulatory and security filings relating to their imports and exports. Customers use Descartes’ federated Global Logistics Network (GLN) to integrate operational data flow through their network anywhere in the world, regardless of location or region, and centralize the compliance process.
Descartes’ Supply Chain Execution solutions provide help customers manage end-to-end shipment management processes by providing visibility to shipment status, capabilities to monitor and respond to potential shipment delays, and analytics to measure supply chain performance and identify improvement opportunities.
Descartes’ Mobile Resource Management solutions help customers manage and monitor mobile resources involved in shipment or service delivery, whether they be people, vehicles, conveyance assets or documents. Descartes’ MRM solutions integrate hardware, software, mobile networks and Descartes’ Global Logistics Network to support customers in having up-to-date real-time information about constantly-moving delivery resources. This information is then used by our customers to make sure that they are operating efficiently and providing accurate and timely information to their own customers about the status of these mobile resources.
Descartes sells its products through direct sales force, distributors, and value-added resellers. Its customers include ground carriers, airlines, ocean carriers, freight forwarders and third-party providers of logistics services, and hundreds of manufacturers, retailers, distributors, private fleet owners and regulatory agencies. Descartes’ Global Logistics Network is comprised of a vast array of federated networks that unite by design to provide customers with broad access to the global supply chain community by working as One Learning Team.
Descartes’ business model has evolved since its founding. The company started by developing logistics software for bakeries and soft-drink bottlers, and eventually became a provider of broad, service-based solutions for the emerging e-fulfillment revolution in 2000. As the internet transformed business, Descartes adjusted with a business model that emphasized value-added services delivered over a network. Descartes is an innovator of the on-demand business model where customers pay Descartes as they generate value from Descartes technology and services.
In 2007, Descartes was granted the Omond Solandt Award of the Canadian Operational Research Society (CORS). It was also voted a Top 100 Logistics IT Company by Inbound Logistics. A year before, the company was recognized as the Best Canadian Company by Canadian Business Magazine during International Business Awards 2006.
Why Waterloo Region?
“The Waterloo region nurtures entrepreneurial spirit and innovation through a network of committed community members sharing each others’ experiences. At Descartes, we apply that same community principle by working as One Learning Team to operate a global logistics network that brings together an ecosystem of people involved in moving shipments from Point A to Point B. Whether it’s in our local Waterloo community or in a global logistics ecosystem, we believe that harnessing the power of the network allows individuals to make better decisions and deliver better results.” - Art Mesher, Chief Executive Officer at Descartes
Sources:
“I came from the USA and picked Waterloo Region to start my business because it has a unique combination of critical factors that guarantee it will be one of the fastest growing high tech centers in North America over the next 10-20 years.”
Eric Meger, President
Broadband Learning Corp
Eric Meger, President
Broadband Learning Corp
